Makeup Artist Ashlee Glazer Goes Pretty Local Columbus
The celebrity makeup artist, who’s covering the Met Gala, shares her glam squad in her current hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
by Ashlee Glazer
Glazer is a celebrity makeup artist and an on-air pro, reporting on fashion and beauty.
As a Long Island native and Manhattan resident for over 10 years working in the glamorous, or as I like to call it — get Glazed, immediately — beauty industry, I was absolutely terrified for my vanity when I moved to Columbus, Ohio three years ago to raise my family, but that all changed this week. On Wednesday I received a call to appear as a guest beauty commentator for NYLive Presents: The Met Gala on NBC. A live red carpet special airing tonight at 7:30. My beauty expertise went into overdrive on a mission to get ready. Here’s how the glow-up happened from the very next day to the day of in New York leading up to the special.
Thursday: Hair Color + Manicure
I discovered Meg Reynolds at Stile Salon at Easton Town Center right before my son was born. Finding a good stylist in a new city is like making a new friend, and some may say it’s actually almost more important….
My long time colorist in NYC, Eric Murowski generously shared my Minky brown formula with me when I relocated and Meg follows it to a T. (I had some experiences when I first moved here where they did not).
Stile Salon is one of those large, classic salons where you can get your nails done while the color is being applied. That is rare these days, so I took full advantage. I love a multi-tasking service appointment. I got the new OPI Bubble Bunny gel by Chaunte Gallagher, and had a lovely conversation with both women, I was washed and blown out by Destiny and on my way in 2 hours. Voila!
Friday: Facial
I was referred to Crystal Gale by a few friends and had my first facial with her a few weeks ago. I was 20 minutes late and had a dry coughing attack halfway into the appointment. She handed me a lozenge and let me “rest” for a bit while she stepped out of the room. I was so embarrassed. So when I made another appointment for this week, I made sure I was 15 min early, and well hydrated. She is an absolute angel of a soul, the calmest and kindest energy and was laughing when I reminded her I was the coughing attack girl. Of course, she remembered!
I told her I had to be on camera in four days with a spray tan scheduled the following day. There is actually a prompt on the website when booked titled “Tell me what I need facial” GENIUS. She suggested a dermaplane, some lymphatic micro currents, an LED Mask, and hydrating masks with the icy globe massage. YES Please! I was rejuvenated and glowing and actually took a cat nap, which as a mom of 2 little ones- does not happen — ever.
Saturday: Spray Tan
I texted a few friends who are fabulous and they recommended The Bronzing Bar. It’s a bright and chic little spot 10 minutes from my house. The color is custom blended based on your preference. My specialist was friendly, bubbly and confirmed with the color of my suit (sandstone sequin) we shouldn’t be too dark. I went with the 8 hour option, it was 10:40am and I showered around 7:30 pm. Two coats and she set me with a spray of baby powder all over to lock it in for no transfer! ! The color is perfect and it didn’t even get on my babies. (It has)
Sunday: Travel Day
Extreme hydration. Inside and outside. I use Hempz Body Lotion and Rhode Barrier Butter Intensive Skin Cream., and drank at least a gallon of water.
Monday: Day of
My long time friend Krista Burke of Karma Beauty Studio, will be styling me today. A good blowout and maybe something else? Not sure yet as I’m writing this in real time but it’s going be a long day- call time at 4pm at NBC, we are on live at 7:30pm. So, in Long Island terms: leaving Long Island at 2 - 10:00 hair, makeup at 12:00. I am a makeup artist so I will be doing my own glam and then touching up onsite, but I highly recommend having your stylists work on you at the same time to save you time on the days of your events — especially if it’s not your own wedding. The get-in-and-get-out kinda glam is my favorite, or a Do+Go as they say in the Industry.
Last Looks:
On the way to the airport today I turned to my husband and said, “I can’t believe I got all prepped and ready right here in Ohio. I feel like I really live here now that I found my people.”
As a new mom, the saying “it takes a village” gets tossed around a lot, and it does in the beauty world too. The beauty service industry is so much deeper than just surface level, which is kind of ironic since that’s exactly what it is. Hair, makeup, tan, nails — it all comes off at the end of the day (or week). But that feeling of confidence and camaraderie, is long lasting, and building relationships with your stylists makes each appointment more meaningful. I’m proud to say I found some Pretty Local favorites here in Columbus, OH, and can’t wait to partake all the glamorous festivities back in New York tonight, on the best day ever, the first Monday in May. Tune into NBC4 at 7:30pm, or stream on Peacock or NBC4 YouTube channel.
See ya later!
Xo
Ashlee
